1705034613 Ho-ti trembled in every joint while he grasped the abominable thing, wavering whether he should not put his son to death for an unnatural young monster, when the crackling scorching his fingers, as it had done his son’s, and applying the same remedy to them, he in his turn tasted some of its flavour, which, make what sour mouths he would for a pretence, proved not altogether displeasing to him. In conclusion （for the manuscript here is a little tedious） both father and son fairly sat down to the mess, and never left off till they had dispatched all that remained of the litter.

1705034614

1705034615 Bo-bo was strictly enjoined not to let the secret escape, for the neighbors would certainly have stoned them for a couple of abominable wretches, who could think of improving upon the good meat which God had sent them. Nevertheless, strange stories got about. It was observed that Ho-ti’s cottage was burned down now more frequently than ever. Nothing but fires from this time forward. Some would break out in broad day, others in the night-time. As often as the sow farrowed, so sure was the house of Ho-ti to be in a blaze; and Ho-ti himself, which was the more remarkable, instead of chastising his son, seemed to grow more indulgent to him than ever. At length they were closely watched, the terrible mystery discovered, and father and son summoned to take their trial at Peking, then an inconsiderable assize town. Evidence was given, the obnoxious food itself produced in court, and verdict about to be pronounced, when the foreman of the jury begged that some of the burnt pig, of which the culprits stood accused, might be handed into the box. He handled it, and they all handled it, and burning their fingers, as Bo-bo and his father had done before them, and nature prompting to each of them the same remedy, against the face of all the facts, and the clearest charge which judge had ever given, —to the surprise of the whole court, townsfolk, strangers, reporters, and all present—without leaving the box, or any manner of consultation whatever, they brought in a simultaneous verdict of Not Guilty.

1705034616

1705034617 The judge, who was a shrewd fellow, winked at the manifest iniquity of the decision; and, when the court was dismissed, went privily, and bought up all the pigs that could be had for love or money. In a few days his Lordship’s townhouse was observed to be on fire. The thing took wing, and now there was nothing to be seen but fires in every direction. Fuel and pigs grew enormously dear all over the district. The insurance offices one and all shut up shop. People built slighter and slighter every day, until it was feared that the very science of architecture would in no long time be lost to the world. Thus this custom of firing houses continued, till in process of time, says my manuscript, a sage arose, like our Locke, who made a discovery, that the flesh of swine, or indeed of any other animal, might be cooked （burned , as they called it） without the necessity of consuming a whole house to dress it. Then first began the rude form of a gridiron. Roasting by the string, or spit came in a century or two later, I forget in whose dynasty. By such slow degrees, concludes the manuscript, do the most useful and seemingly the most obvious arts, make their way among mankind.

1705034618

1705034619 Notes

1705034620

1705034621 manuscript, composition written by hand, as an ancient book.

1705034622

1705034623 my friend M., Thomas Manning, an Orientalist, an Eastern traveler and linguist. Lamb was introduced to him by Lloyd in 1799, and a lifetime friendship resulted.

1705034624

1705034625 obliging, helpful; civil; kind.

1705034626

1705034627 raw, not cooked; in the natural state.

1705034628

1705034629 Abyssinia, in East Africa. In Bruce’s Travels in Abyssinia （Chap. VII） there is an account of the cutting of steaks from a live cow which was afterwards driven on to the evening encampment.

1705034630

1705034631 not obscurely hinted at, very plainly referred to; clearly mentioned.

1705034632

1705034633 Confucius， 孔夫子，our greatest sage （551-478 B.C.）

1705034634

1705034635 Mundane Mutations, Lamb’s equivalent for 易经．

1705034636

1705034637 designates, names; indicates by name.

1705034638

1705034639 golden age, an era of perfect happiness, a period of great prosperity and progress or of the flowering of civilization.

1705034640

1705034641 literally, following the “letter” or the exact words; giving a strict construction or translation.

1705034642

1705034643 roasting, cooking by exposure to radiant heat before a fire or in an oven, open or close.

1705034644

1705034645 broiling, cooking by direct exposure to heat over a fire. Meat is roasted before the fire on a spit; it is broiled over a flame on a gridiron.

1705034646

1705034647 the elder brother . Lamb says that people learned to broil first, and to roast afterwards. Hence broiling is the elder brother.

1705034648

1705034649 swineherd, keeper of swine or pigs.

1705034650

1705034651 as his manner was, as was his usual practice.

1705034652

1705034653 mast, any kind of nut, used collectively, especially as food for pigs.

1705034654

1705034655 Bo-bo， 宝宝．

1705034656

1705034657 lubberly, clumsy and awkward.

1705034658

1705034659 youngsters, young boys; lads.

1705034660

1705034661 kindling, catching on fire; igniting.

1705034662

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